California's Richard Solomon (35) scores against Washington State Royce Woolridge (22) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday Jan 12, 2013, in Berkeley California.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

California's Richard Solomon (35) scores against Washington State...

Image 2 of 3

Cal's Justin Cobbs, who scored 10 points, tries to find a way around Washington State's defense in the second half.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Cal's Justin Cobbs, who scored 10 points, tries to find a way...

Image 3 of 3

Washington State forward Brock Motum (12) is blocked from reaching the basket by California's Robert Thurman (34) and Richard Solomon (35) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday Jan 12, 2013, in Berkeley California. Cal won 67-54

Coming from a religious background as he does, it meant something when Allen Crabbe said he and his Cal basketball teammates had a "come to Jesus meeting" a day after getting pounded by Washington at home on Wednesday night.

The Bears followed up that 62-47 thrashing by the Huskies with a 67-54 victory over Washington State on Saturday afternoon at Haas Pavilion to earn a needed split for the week. Cal is 10-6 overall and 2-2 in the Pac-12 Conference.

"We all picked it up on defense," Crabbe said. "We've got to play harder. Can't go out there without energy. We all talked about we have to make a run at this Pac-12. We have the weapons to be successful."

While this game was brutal to watch at times, Cal's renewed commitment to defense paid off with 11 blocked shots to tie a school record for the second time this season. Forward-center Richard Solomon had a career-high six blocks, and forward David Kravish had three to crack Cal's top 10 career list in shot rejections.

One of Solomon's swats came when Cal was trying to build on a 47-43 lead midway through the second half. He got a hand on a shot by 6-foot-10 Brock Motum, Washington State's leading scorer, at 9:06.

"Our coach was trying to motivate us before the game," Crabbe said of the frequently exasperated Mike Montgomery. "A lot of people were giving us negative press, calling us soft. I don't feel we're soft. Defense was the key for us."

The most important block for Cal did not come from either Solomon or Kravish, however.

With 2:55 remaining and the score 58-51 in favor of Cal, 6-4 freshman guard Tyrone Wallace cleanly blocked a layup attempt by Motum.

"I felt I had a good chance," Wallace said. "I was right on him when he went up, and I got it."

Less than a minute after Wallace's block, two free throws by Justin Cobbs pushed Cal's lead to 60-51 to provide a safe cushion the rest of the way.

Wallace, who did not start because he was late to the morning shoot-around, finished strong with 16 points, six rebounds and that one big block. It was a season high in points for the first-year player.

Washington State coach Ken Bone credited Cal's length for the 11 blocks, saying, "We have a hard time simulating that. When we're in practice, we don't see that. We're sure seeing it now."

Briefly: Cal football coach Sonny Dykes and some of his assistants made an appearance at the game and were introduced to the crowd. ... With Wallace held out of the starting lineup, junior Jeff Powers got the start at off guard and scored five points. It was Powers' first start of the season and the third of his career.